A Year After a Remarkable Fundraiser for Biden
Last year, in June, a vibrant crowd filled 7,100 seats at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, where A-list celebrities like George Clooney, Julia Roberts, and Barack Obama came together with a shared goal: raising funds for President Biden’s reelection campaign. The event was historic, raking in over $30 million—a remarkable achievement for a single fundraising night.
The importance of this event for Biden’s campaign was evident. As reported by the Associated Press, Biden even altered his travel plans, flying across nine time zones from the G7 Summit to attend the event in California.
Outside, protests were erupting in Gaza, while inside, high-profile speeches were delivered. Obama took the stage next to Biden, engaging in a conversation with Jimmy Kimmel. Their predominant theme? A warning that a second Trump presidency would spell disaster for America.
Obama reflected on the consequences of the 2016 election, mentioning, “I hope we learned our lesson because these elections are important.” When the audience reacted negatively to the mention of Roe v. Wade, Obama quipped, “Don’t hiss, vote.”
Shortly after this gathering, however, Biden stepped back from the campaign, allowing Vice President Kamala Harris to take over. Despite remaining personable and engaging, concerns about Biden’s health became apparent during the event. At one point, he seemed unresponsive, reminiscent of a scene from a science fiction film, forcing Obama to escort him off the stage gently.
The Washington Post later characterized Biden as appearing “slowly… frail.” Even with supportive questions from Kimmel and Obama stepping in to help, Biden struggled to articulate key aspects of his campaign platform.
As the days passed, Biden’s performance at a CNN debate against Trump raised alarms among Democrats. Obama, who had previously encouraged Biden to run in 2016 and 2020, remained notably silent on Biden’s challenges, perhaps fearing the embarrassment that may come with discussing an older candidate’s viability.
There was a noticeable absence in the political narrative: the American people. While Obama might have thought it wise to keep a low profile, his presence at the Peacock Theatre raised questions. Did he truly fail to notice Biden’s unfitness to campaign effectively?
Moreover, there were murmurs in political circles about Obama potentially maneuvering behind the scenes to facilitate Biden’s exit, but why wait so long to act?
Gallup showed Obama’s approval rating at 67% during that time, a stark rise from previous lows where it dipped to 40%. Although his popularity was still considerable, his responses concerning Biden were scarce, fueling speculation.
The narrative surrounding Biden raises difficult questions. How does one reconcile supporting someone they once deemed capable of holding office, only to witness a substantial downturn in their public perception and abilities? Obama’s eventual contemplation about Biden’s re-election bid, rather than encouraging a more decisive mid-2023 response from Democrats, felt like an avoidance of necessary confrontation.
This reluctance to speak out and facilitate real change contrasts sharply with past political examples, such as Jimmy Carter, whose efforts helped elevate his historical standing. For Obama, however, the trajectory seems to lead the opposite way so far.
